Les Snead doesn't regret waiting so long to start Jared Goff in 2016

The Rams’ decision not to start rookie quarterback Jared Goff until Week 11 was controversial, even before the team finally fired longtime head coach Jeff Fisher.

After taking Goff with the first overall pick in the 2016 draft, the QB was kept off the field for more than half the season, which to some directly contradict the team’s stated intention to make him the future of their franchise.

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Now, as the Rams enter a new era with boy wonder head coach Sean McVay, Goff is decidedly behind in his development as an everyday NFL starter. General Manager Les Snead recently spoke with the NFL Network’s Steve Wyche at the NFL Spring Meeting, and he said the second-year QB has a lot to learn about reading the field.

“I think the number one thing he’s gotta do is – unfortunately – it’s gonna be the second offense he’s learned,” explained Snead. “You gotta get that down. But I think if Sean [McVay] had one priority for Jared it’s this…[he] really wants to the quarterback to understand protections. Because at that point during the course of a game, he should know where his protections are weak and strong. . .”

“You know hindsight’s 20/20 but the answer’s really no,” said the GM. “Because last season was last season and it had different phases in the goals we were trying to accomplish. But the difference between last season and this year will be is Jared’s going to be taking reps with the number ones from day one, where last year he wasn’t. And that’s I think going to give him a lot more quality reps to progress.”

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The fact that Goff is the clear number one starter from the moment team activities begin will certainly be a huge factor in his development. Plus, Goff will no doubt benefit from the revitalized offensive coaching staff, which includes two quarterback gurus in McVay and OC Matt LaFleaur, who just coached in the Super Bowl.

Still, it’s hard not to wonder if working through the growing pains last season would’ve given Goff a more comprehensive head start this year.